The residual air in the upper portions
of the throat, mouth and nasal cavities is thrown into vibration.

Here the importance of the subject reveals itself. The art that
can convert a screech into pleasing cadences of soft sound is no
trifle. Nasal resonance must not be confounded with nasal twang.
The one is produced by vibrating the air in the cavities, the
twang by expelling it from them. The part played by each organ in
voice production may be briefly summarised:--The lungs send out a
stream of air; the vocal chords, principally, modulate it; the
head and chest give it resonance.

Now, that it is clearly evident God intended us to speak and sing
to the accompaniment of these aerial orchestras concealed in the
head and chest, the only remaining question is--How we shall use
them?

[Side note: Advice how to avoid screech]

Take care never to exhaust these reservoirs of air; if you do the
result will be screech and shout. No matter what demand is made
on you, be sure to hold a reserve supply of residual air: set it
vibrating, and your voice on its outward passage will receive an
enrichment of volume, force, and music.

[Side note: Inflection: its necessity]

"Go slowly and articulate well" are not sufficient. "Inflect your
language" must be added. A student should practise assiduously
till his sentences become as flexible as a cutting whip, capable
of being bent to every mood and of lending themselves to every
passion. In pathos his words should sink almost to a sob, tearful
in their plaintiveness; in denunciation they should rise,
muttering the voices of the storms; and in narrative the proper
pitch is ordinary middle tone.

[Side note: French and English want inflection]

It is in this want of inflective grace that English, and more
especially French, speakers lose so much of their force. Both
read admirably and articulate with precision, but the unvaried
straight line tone, so suited to reading, will not serve the
purpose when we not only wish to make people understand, but also
endeavour to move their passions.

[Side note: The secret power of a good story-teller]

Recall a good story-teller or speaker of whom you never wearied;
go back in memory and see how much he owed to the power contained
in the inflected voice--the varied tones that sank or swelled as
suited the mood or passion.

As you sat by the winter's fire your flesh was made to creep and
your hair stood on end in terror while you furtiv